One day before the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, many interested players are asking whether it would be worth upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 specifically for the new Pokémon game. However, the mood in a comparative video reveals a completely different sentiment than the answer to this question.
What does the YouTuber demonstrate in his video? YouTuber ElAnalistaDeBits shows in a video how the graphics of the newest Pokémon game on the Nintendo Switch 1 differ from the performance of the Switch 2. He discusses resolution, textures, vegetation, distant object representation, pop-ins, detail level, and other aspects.
It is noticeable that there are some visual differences, some of which are rather minimal and require a trained eye to perceive them individually. However, other comparisons show a significant difference in performance that clarifies the capabilities of the consoles.
Despite the comparison, for which some players express gratitude in the comments, a divided mood in the community emerges: “The funny and at the same time sad thing about this is that this is the best look of a Pokémon game so far” (@rattiesteps1987 in the comments on YouTube).
The community says the problem lies not in the different performance
What differences does the game exhibit on the consoles? The YouTuber visually and descriptively shows the significant differences between the two versions:
- The most striking aspect is that the game achieves 60 FPS on the Switch 2, while the Switch 1 maxes out at 30 FPS.
- While the Switch 1 reaches a maximum resolution of 1080p with a typical resolution of nearly 800p, the Switch 2 maximally supports 2160p with a typical resolution of 1080p.
- The Switch 2 shows improvements in some textures and shaders. This is especially noticeable in vegetation, but also in tiles (ambient occlusion and normal maps, which means more realistic and detailed shading) and in distant objects.
In summary: The framerate stands out the most; the rest is rather secondary and appears on the Switch 2 as a “nice bonus” that does not necessarily prompt an urgent upgrade to the Switch 2.
How does the community react to this demonstration? In the comments under the video, viewers thank the YouTuber for also showcasing the version of Switch 1, which was often overlooked in many other reviews. Not all players can afford to switch to a Switch 2, as @arminarlertscane points out, which is why many are actually glad that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is not a Switch 2 exclusive.
But despite the graphical comparison, the general mood in the comments remains rather subdued. The comments focus less on the graphical comparison of both versions and more on the overall design of the game—regardless of which console.
“No amount of graphical performance can make up for a mediocre art style and flat texture maps,” says @Mirage475, and @TheLaxed adds: “A city without cars and without pedestrians, but hey, we have random rocks in the middle of the city.”
This is not surprising, but rather a widely held opinion among Pokémon fans who have been continually disappointed by the graphics and design of the latest games. When GameFreak finally announced a new action game that looks graphically much better than all previous Pokémon games, they were quite shocked.
For all fans excited about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, it won’t be long until they can finally play it in less than 24 hours on October 16, 2025. Those who have spent too much time on the Internet may have already come across various leaked content that could have spoiled some things. If you want to know what this content includes without being directly spoiled, you can find out more here on MeinMMO: If you want to start Pokémon Legends Z-A spoiler-free, you should avoid the internet for 2 days
